Smokin04

Wanted to share this with the modular community...especially Turbo (read: oil sensitive) stangers. I recently installed an autometer oil pressure gauge in addition to the factory gauge. Let's just say that I'm glad I don't run thicker than a 20W oil.

On a cold start up, the oil pressure in my car is close to 100 psi!!! I have a stock bottom end. When it's warmed up the oil pressure (OP) will drop to 18-20 psi. During normal driving, the OP will hang near 50 psi down to around 20 at idle and up to about 60 at WOT. But when cold, the OP will be more than 100 (gauge pegged) at times.

The scary part: Through out the entire psi range 15 -100+ psi my factory oil pressure gauge NEVER MOVES!!! For turbo guys, I HIGHLY SUGGEST an aftermarket pressure gauge and some kind of restrictor in your turbo(s) to keep that level of pressure from annihalating your seals. For everyone else, just because your gauge registers pressure, doesn't mean it's safe to smash on the car. Be kind, let your car warm up all the way before smashing on it.

Fobra

LOL... you didn't know that?

But this is a good public service announcement, although I think most people are aware. The OP brings up a good point, once you mod your car or spend a lot of on a motor, esp. a boost motor, a good set of gauges is cheap insurance.

tdcalhoun89

agreed. if you're going to put that much money into your car, spend the extra dough and get some good gauges.

pkwest

That is why some say to run 0w20 or 0w30. I have been thinking about switching.

Frostbitten

i use 5w-30 mobil1 and always make sure the car is running at least 180 degrees before i give it any boost

Eagle2000GT

+1 Never run a cold engine hard.

I have been told that the stock oil pressure gage is nothing more than an idiot light with a needle. That as long as it has minimum oil pressure it will read normal.

amoosenamedhank

The stock gauge is a on-off style system. It doesn't monitor, it just tells you if you have more than like 6 psi of oil pressure... if you do it moves up to a predetermined location on the gauge...

Fobra

Yes it is a toggle, I believe it reads normal so long as there is 8lbs.

Z28KLR

Too bad the aftermarket hasn't come up with a new oil pressure sending unit that would make the stock gauge read a little more precisely. I understand that an aftermarket gauge will read in p.s.i. rather than how close your pressure is to the max. allowable "low" or "high" range, but not everybody wants a bunch of extra gauges sticking out from their a-pillars, steering column, or dash.

Smokin04

Not to be nit-picky but it's a 6 lb switch.